This award is presented at the society’s annual and scientific meeting. It is awarded to an undergraduate student who distinguishes herself or himself as the primary and presenting author of an oral or poster abstract which is judged to be of outstanding merit.

Dr. John Fleetwood was a founding member of the Irish Gerontological Society.  Born in Edinburgh, John Fleetwood graduated in medicine from University College Dublin.  He practiced as a general practitioner in Blackrock Co. Dublin and at Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services in Harold’s Cross.

In 1949, Dr. Fleetwood recognised that knowledge about the social medical care of the elderly in Ireland was scanty.  In pursuit of improving his own knowledge, he attended a meeting of the Medical Society for the Care of the Elderly (later renamed the British Geriatrics Society). In 1950, Dr. Fleetwood attended the International Association of Gerontology (now IAGG) meeting in Liege.  He was elected to its governing body as a delegate of ‘the Irish Gerontological Society’ (IGS).

Following Dr. Fleetwood’s return from Liege, the first meeting of the IGS took place on 23 October 1950.  Six people attended.  Prof. Jerry Jessop, Professor of Physiology at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland was elected as President and Dr. Fleetwood as the society’s first Honorary Secretary.